The Oregon Department of Transportation is warning Oregonians of phishing scams going around from senders claiming to be with ODOT and DMV.
In a release from ODOT, Oregon DMV Public Information Officer Chris Crabb said, "If you receive an unsolicited text claiming to be from ODOT or DMV saying you owe money for an unpaid traffic fine or toll balance, it’s a scam. Do not click any links or provide payment or personal identifying information. These are fake messages designed to steal your personal and financial information."
The latest scam messages are sent from an unknown phone number and typically begin with urgent language such as, "Evasion Notice for Oregon Traffic Court" or "Final Notice – Toll Violation".
Oregonians are reminded to ignore and delete the scam text messages and block the number to prevent further potential harm. You can report scams and suspicious communications to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
If you clicked on a link or provided personal information, secure your personal information and financial accounts, dispute any unfamiliar charges, and file a customer complaint with Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection.
ODOT and Oregon DMV will never request payment through an unsolicited text message, email, phone call or third-party website. You can always verify a message’s legitimacy by contacting ODOT directly at 1-888-Ask-ODOT and DMV directly at 1-855-540-6655.
For more information about fraud prevention, visit oregondmv.com.
